Air Ops Questions

[neuromancer]

Two questions regarding Air Ops:
UV 2.3

1. I had a bunch of medium weight level bombers at PM who had been happily flying around dropping bombs on every IJN transport and escort in sight. A good time was had by all. I had 1 PBY group, and the F5 Recon group operating out of PM at 50% naval search each, and each level bomber group was at 20 or 30% naval search (I've found that I can leave a PBY and the F5 at 50% NS almost indefinitely without having to put them on downtime, their moale is always high, and fatigue usually no more than 10 or maybe 15).
Anyway, I activated the Buna base, and moved some dive bombers there (from an ex-carrier, see the After Action Reports for that debacle), plus the PBY group there to act as recon for the dive bombers.
The level bombers still had the F5 for naval search, plus their on 20 or 30% search. But siuddenly they don't seem to be making attack runs on anything. I always tell them to stand down if their fatigue gets over 50 (turns out that I should tell them to stand down at 40), or if their morale drops below 50. I also have really battered groups stand down to repair their planes, no matter how happy the surviving pilots are.

Any ideas why these guys don't seem to bomb anything any more? They keep on reporting seeing things, but they no longer bomb them!


2. Is there some way to encourage your Air Groups to bomb useful targets? Before the above mentioned debacle, my air groups spotted an IJN carrier group sliding up towards GG, and a small transport TF. So who do they attack? The transports.
Guys! CVs are a hell of a lot mnore dangerous than a couple transports escorted by a gunboat! Please bomb them. Please!!
They didn't... crap.

Is there any way to encourage my commanders to have a little more brains in picking their targets, or is it just the whim of the game?

[redman1]

The second issue is a common complaint with the game, referred to as "overkill", and there's not much you can do about it.

As for the first, I can't help you.

[Zeta16]

The bombers won't fly aganist CV taskforces without escort. Regarding your first question I try not to fly planes with more than 20% fat., so manybe that will keep them happy.

[bilbow]

ORIGINAL: Zeta16

The bombers won't fly aganist CV taskforces without escort. Regarding your first question I try not to fly planes with more than 20% fat., so manybe that will keep them happy.

Also I will usually stand them down if morale goes below 60. Even when they fly they will sometimes abort, not pressing the attack. You can see this in the combat reports where it will show something like "0 X B-26 at 6000 ft"

[CMDRMCTOAST]

Your airbase is probably too small under size 4 and the malarial effects on fatigue
will come into play if airbase, port and fortifications are under 4 I think.
Level bombers won't fly from an airbase size smaller than 4 especially
at ships and no fighter escort from the base will keep them down on the ground.
also check to make sure you have enough aviation support they will
not fly as aggressively and in smaller numbers without it.
HQ'S will affect the range that they fly out to also.
I may not be 100% on these issues but I think I am pretty close. [;)]

[DoomedMantis]

The 2 qusteions I have are what is the size of the base, and how many aircraft are stationed there. The base will have full operations for every 50 aricraft per airfield size. ie size 4 base up to 199 aircraft tand they will fly normally, 201 aircraft on the same base and flying operations are dropped by (from memory) 25%, if you had 251 aircraft they drop by a further 25% etc.

[neuromancer]

It is a big base, probably around 5 or 6 for Air alone (I've had a lot of Engineers there right from the beginning of the game), and as I said, the LBs had been operating there, its like they suddenly got lazy!

As for the Air Support, I always make sure that anywhere I'm operating from has got adequate Air Support before I start pouring planes in. Buna was actually an exception because the AGs from my dead CVs retreated there, and I decided to leave them there. Although I just had them rest until I could divert some air support.

[redman1]

ORIGINAL: Zeta16

The bombers won't fly aganist CV taskforces without escort.

Interesting . . . need the escorts come from the same base, or can they be based closer to the target too?

[Zeta16]

ORIGINAL: redman1

ORIGINAL: Zeta16

The bombers won't fly aganist CV taskforces without escort.

Interesting . . . need the escorts come from the same base, or can they be based closer to the target too?

I think the escort can come from closer bases. A quick question what is the moral of your bomber groups and at what level are you flying them.

[DoomedMantis]

you say the base is size 5 or 6, but how many aircraft are staioned there?

[redman1]

Zeta, I don't have a specific squadron or game in mind right now. My question was generally oriented.

[Zeta16]

ORIGINAL: redman1

Zeta, I don't have a specific squadron or game in mind right now. My question was generally oriented.

Because there are a bunch of checks in low level flying and there are moral checks to fly also.

[redman1]

Interesting. Do tell.

I've typically had squadrons either fly or stand down based upon my seat-of-the pants judgment as to their overall condition (moral, fatigue, aircraft being repaired, total strength) and my tactical needs rather than any scientific formula.

What are these checks that you perform?

[Zeta16]

ORIGINAL: redman1

Interesting. Do tell.

I've typically had squadrons either fly or stand down based upon my seat-of-the pants judgment as to their overall condition (moral, fatigue, aircraft being repaired, total strength) and my tactical needs rather than any scientific formula.

What are these checks that you perform?

I don't remeber then all but the computer makes random checks if the planes are going to fly.

I think some are fatigue, moral, flight leader?, and other things. Check the manual or some posts from the past where I have seen this.

[DoomedMantis]

there are some hidden stats such as agressiveness that also come into play

[neuromancer]

ORIGINAL: DoomedMantis

you say the base is size 5 or 6, but how many aircraft are staioned there?

Aproximately 185 planes, size 5 air base, Air Support well in excess of 250, supply is 'pink', so less than 2 x listed requirement, Morale is in the 90s for all squadrons, Fatigue is less han 10. Experience is in the 50s and 60s for all squadrons.

There hasn't been a wealth of targets lately (not sure what the heck the computer is up to, it's playing hide and seek with me!), but I had a half dozen different planes spot a Minesweeper on each of 2 or 3 turns, but no one went to blow it up. Ended up with a nearby sub going after it.

The MS was within range of several of the bombers (heck, the port it was at had accidentally been strafed by a fighter group when I gave them the wrong orders by mistake).

[bilbow]

Ahhh! Supply! You need more supply. Offensive missions usually won't launch if supply is under 2X. You are OK on CAP, Recon and search, but not offensive missions.

[DoomedMantis]

Bingo, supply is your issue

[neuromancer]

Supply!!!

Aha! Always a problem at PM.

Thanks very much, most helpful. I haven't played in a few days, so I shall be able to pick up and send in increased supply runs!
Should probably pull some of the planes back, and redistribute the excessive number of troops I have there as well.

Assuming I can find some AKs and APs that aren't rusting at the bottom of the ocean...

[;)]
(haven't lost that many actually, but a couple did become Polish Submarines - did you know that Japanese BBs can blow an AK out of the water in just a few volleys?)


Again, thanks much!